Rounding out a busy year, it’s fair to say the Northern Territory is shaping up to be one of 2019’s most on-trend travel destinations. With global accolades, plenty of new experiences and anniversaries to boot, it’s time to start planning your 2019 NT adventure.
RED CENTRE THE PLACE TO BE IN 2019
With ancient landscapes and some of Australia’s most desirable destinations, it’s no wonder this region is being heralded as a ‘must-do’ travel destinations for the coming year. Global travel brand Fodor’s Travel pinned Uluru-Kata Tjuta as the number 10 spot to travel to in the Fodor’s Go List 2019, while Experience Oz named Uluru in their ‘7 Wonders of the Australia’ campaign – the only NT destination to feature. Lonely Planet also ranked the Red Centre as number four (and the only Australasian destination) on its hotly contested Best in Travel lists of Top 10 Regions, Countries & Cities for 2019. The Territory’s Tropical North also made the cut in Best in Travel with the most visited park in the Top End, Litchfield National Park, included in Lonely Planet’s Best New Openings list for 2019.
Experience Oz – 7 Wonders of the Australia
Lonely Planet – Best in Travel
SADDLE UP FOR AN UNMISSABLE ULURU CAMEL ADVENTURE
Planning your travel hit list for 2019? Global travel brand TripAdvisor has unveiled its list of some unmissable global experiences for Aussies, with a sunrise or sunset camel tour with Uluru Camel Tours making the list. The only Australian experience to be included, the not-to-be-missed experience lets travellers take in the unforgettable desert landscape of Uluru from high atop a trusty stead, all whilst learning about the ancient rock formation of Uluru and the rich pioneering history of the region.
WHEELS UP ON ULURU FLIGHTS
It’s time to start planning your next trip to the Red Centre with Qantas announcing two new weekly flights from Darwin and Adelaide to Uluru. The new routes will also pave the way for those looking for a complete Northern Territory experience to explore both the Red Centre and the Top End in the one trip. Flights between Alice Springs and Darwin will also be upgraded to B737 aircrafts with business class available and a total of 1300 new seats per week.
BASS IN THE GRASS GETS A NEW HOME
Darwin & Surrounds
Darwin’s BASSINTHEGRASS music festival is moving to a new home in 2019, in the hottest sunset spot in Darwin, Mindil Beach. The exciting new site overlooking Fannie Bay means the festival will be bigger and better than ever, with an additional stage and an expanded artist line-up including top international acts. The first round of artists will be announced in early February and the rest early in the new year, so be sure to put Saturday 18 May 2019 in your diary!
KAKADU NATIONAL PARK CELEBRATES THE BIG 40
Kakadu
Australia’s largest terrestrial National Park, Kakadu National Park, will celebrate its 40th Anniversary in 2019. But with a history dating back more than 65,000 years, there’s much more than just four decades’ worth of stories to explore and discover on any given visit. Situated 250 kilometres east of Darwin on the Arnhem Highway, Kakadu is the must-do destination for adventurers and cultural enthusiasts alike. Kakadu National Park is also one of only a few sites in the world that’s dual World Heritage-listed for both its natural and cultural values. In its anniversary year, Kakadu National Park will again play host to Taste of Kakadu from 10–19 May 2019, a food festival thousands of years in the making.
THE GHANIVERSARY
Adelaide, Alice Springs, Katherine and Darwin
Ninety years on from its debut journey from Adelaide to Alice Springs, the famed Ghan journey has lost none of its legendary class and sophistication. To mark this auspicious anniversary, Journey Beyond has planned 90 days of celebrations through June, July and August, culminating in a special anniversary journey on 4 August 2019. More travellers than ever before will also be able to book an adventure aboard The Ghan in its 90th anniversary year, with the legendary train introducing a second service over June, July and August next year.
FIVE TIMES THE BOUNTY FOR FISHOS
Arnhem Land, Darwin, Kakadu, Katherine and Tiwi Islands
Season 4 of Australia’s richest fishing competition, Million Dollar Fish, has kicked off in the Northern Territory and will run until 31 March next year. Home to the largest number of Barramundi in Australia, you could land the million-dollar jackpot – there are five Barramundi worth a cool million dollars loose in the Top End’s fast-moving waters- or one of the 100 fish sporting $10,000 tags with every cast.
QUEENS IN THE DESERT
Alice Springs and surrounds
To mark the 25th anniversary of the classic Aussie film, Priscilla Queen of the Desert, the Queen of the Desert Festival returns to Alice Springs to surprise and delight for a second year. The three-day festival will showcase comedy, cabaret, live music and social activities, all whilst paying homage to this cult classic, stage musical and the larger-than-life outback destinations where it was filmed including Lasseters Hotel Casino. With a vision to give the LGBTQI community the chance to celebrate and promote a broader message of diversity, all whilst exploring Alice Springs’ more playful side, it’s sure to be a sequin-covered spectacle.
NEW BIKE ADVENTURES COME TO ALICE
Alice Springs and surrounds
Fancy exploring Alice on two wheels, but need a bit of a boost? Outback Cycling have introduced a new tour with electric mountain bikes to explore Alice Springs and surrounds with ease and in comfort. The tour will take you along single-track and paved paths out to Simpson’s Gap, or where ever your adventure takes you. The tours run for four hours and are suitable for those aged 12 and above. E-bikes are also available for private hire.
For the more adventurous explorers, Outback Cycling also offer an overnight adventure to take you deep into the West MacDonnell Ranges. Experience the solitude of the desert as you snake through single and four-wheel-drive tracks taking in the fiery colours of this desert landscape, before setting up for the night in a true Aussie bush camp. The tours run for two days and are recommended for experienced riders only.
AUSTRALIAN WALKING HOLIDAYS PITCH NEW TENT ON LARAPINTA TRAIL
Australian Walking Holidays has added a new campsite at the western end of the Larapinta Trail, offering more capacity for walkers taking on this famous trek. With fantastic views of nearby Mt Sonder, the new campsite has been aptly named ‘Sonder Camp’ and incorporates sustainable technologies such as water-free composting toilets, solar lighting systems and a new hybrid grey water disposal system designed for the arid environment.
With guided and self-guided options available, a walk on the Larapinta Trail offers the chance to swim in peaceful waterholes and immerse yourself in the culture of the Arrernte people to gain an understanding of the rich history of Australia’s traditional owners.
NEWS FACES AT LONGITUDE 131°
Husband-and-wife lodge managers Ben and Louise Lanyon are set to undertake the ultimate ‘desert change’, returning to Ballie Lodges to head up operations at Longitude 131° from January 2019. Situated on the edge of World Heritage-listed Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, the lodge offers luxury tented pavilions overlooking one of Australia’s newly crowned 7 wonders, Uluru.Ben and Louise will bring their two sons Cassius and Hendrix with them along with a wealth of high-end hospitality experience.
TROPICAL SUMMER DEALS
While the Top End is stunning all year round, when the Green Season rolls in like clockwork every November, it brings with it mighty storms, dramatic waterfalls and a completely different way to experience this vibrant landscape. Touring the Top End during the Tropical Summer also means you’ll be visiting out of peak, so you can grab a steal on your Territory trip-of-a-lifetime.
BIRD’S EYE VIEW OF KAKADU
Kakadu
Take to the skies on a fixed-wing scenic flight with Kakadu Air for one of the best ways to experience this ancient landscape. Enjoy spectacular aerial views of Kakadu National Park as you take in the lush monsoonal rainforests and wetlands, jagged peaks and towering escarpments, contrasted against the roaring waterfalls and serene pools of the mighty river systems. Kakadu Air is offering a ‘book now and save 15%’ early-bird special on all fixed-wing flights departing between 1 April and 31 August 2018. To take advantage of the deal, bookings must be made directly with Kakadu Air, using the promotion code ‘earlybird19’ before 21 December 2018.
COOINDA LODGE
Kakadu
Tropical Summer is the ideal time to escape the hustle and bustle of the big cities and get off the grid. And what better place than Cooinda Lodge in World Heritage-listed Kakadu National Park? Located next to Yellow Water Billabong, the area is teeming with wildlife and natural beauty. Cooinda Lodge is currently offering a Green Season special, with rates starting at just $139 per night plus an additional $20 off if you book 21 days in advance. This offer is available until 28 February 2019.
MERCURE KAKADU CROCODILE HOTEL
Kakadu
One of the world’s most distinctive places to stay and play, the Mercure Kakadu Crocodile Hotel is shaped just like Kakadu’s most famous inhabitants, our saltwater crocodiles! Located in the township of Jabiru – the only Aussie town in a national park – ‘The Croc’ is ideally situated to explore the ancient rock art sites of Kakadu National Park; and with bush tucker-inspired dining, an on-site indigenous art gallery and a pool there’s something for everyone. Secure discounted Green Season rates with rooms starting from just $129 per night. This offer is available until 28 February 2019.
Mercure Kakadu Crocodile Hotel
YELLOW WATER CRUISES
Kakadu
Floating along Yellow Water Billabong in the heart of Kakadu National Park is a truly spiritual experience. A third of Australia’s bird species call Kakadu home, with more than 60 species found in the wetlands alone making it a haven for twitchers and the cruise an absolute must for nature lovers. Book a sunset cruise during Green Season and pay just $36 per person, which is a saving of $63. This offer is available until 28 February 2019.
A VERY TERRITORY CHRISTMAS
Territorians have – and always will – do things a little differently, and celebrating the festive season is no exception. Really, where else can you find an 8m-high Christmas tree made entirely out of thongs or a bush fruit Christmas cake? With a host of fun events as well as some great deals to be had, isn’t it about time you planned a Territory Christmas?
CHRISTMAS DEALS
NITMILUK CHALETS & CICADA LODGE
Katherine and surrounds
If you’re chasing a tropical summer with a touch of culture, then a Christmas getaway to Nitmiluk National Park offers all of that and more. Award-winning Nitmiluk Tours are offering festive accommodation deals to suit all budgets. For the traveller after simple comfort in an incredible location, Nitmiluk Chalets are a clear winner, providing a cozy place to rest after a day spent exploring escarpment country. Cicada Lodge is designed for the sophisticated traveller looking for an authentic Australian holiday in a place where the outback meets the tropics. Guests can enjoy a 20% discount for all stays between now and the end of February 2019. Stays at Cicada Lodge start from $327.20 per night and Nitmiluk Chalets start at $144 per night. Bookings must be made directly with Nitmiluk Tours via 1300 146 743.
VIBE HOTEL DARWIN WATERFRONT
Darwin and surrounds
Get into the festive spirit in the heart of Darwin with Vibe Hotel Darwin Waterfront’s special Christmas deal. On the waterfront in the centre of Australia’s most culturally diverse city, you’ll enjoy Darwin’s laidback vibe, surrounded by al-fresco restaurants and cafes and a few last-minute Christmas shopping spots. There’s also a Wave Pool – ideal for keeping the kids entertained with watersports and outdoor activities and a Recreational Lagoon to cool off. The Vibe Hotel Darwin Waterfront is currently offering rooms starting at $99 including buffet breakfast, wi-fi, a secure car space and late checkout at 1pm. The offer is available for all stays until 30 April 2019, booked by 31 March 2019.
ADINA APARTMENT HOTEL DARWIN WATERFRONT
Darwin and surrounds
For a self-contained Christmas escape, settle into Adina Apartment Hotel at Darwin’s vibrant Waterfront, featuring all the comforts of home – plus a little more. With an on-site fitness centre, outdoor swimming pool and in-room dining from the hotel’s Curve Restaurant and Bar, you’ll want for absolutely nothing. The Adina Apartment Hotel Darwin Waterfront is currently offering studio apartments starting at $119 including buffet breakfast, wi-fi, a secure car space and late checkout at 1pm. The offer is available for all stays until 30 April 2019, booked by 31 March 2019.
Adina Apartment Hotel Darwin Waterfront
TRAVELODGE RESORT DARWIN
Darwin and surrounds
Looking for a tropical Christmas on a budget? Look no further than the Travelodge Resort Darwin and take advantage of their silly season room deals. A short stroll from the heart of Darwin, you’ll be within walking distance of funky bars and the best restaurants. There are multiple galleries dotted around the area, and Crocosaurus Cove is just a stone’s throw away if you want to come face-to-face with local wildlife. A brilliant option for anyone looking to recharge, Travelodge Resort Darwin is currently offering rooms starting at $79 including buffet breakfast, wi-fi, a secure car space and late checkout at 1pm. The offer is available for all stays until 30 April 2019, booked by 31 March 2019.
CHRISTMAS EVENTS
TACTILE ARTS CHRISTMAS CRAFT FAIR
Darwin and surrounds, 2 December
Full of local artisan goods, the Tactile Arts Christmas Craft Fair showcases more than 100 of the Top End’s best artists and craftspeople. From ceramics and sculptures to jewellery, weaving, painting and photography, there’s artwork for every Christmas stocking. Head up and get your Christmas shopping sorted while helping support local artists from the Top End.
Tactile Arts Christmas Craft Fair
EARTH SANCTUARY ROCK’N’ROLL CHRISTMAS
Alice Springs and surrounds, 8 December
Live music? Gourmet food? A last-minute surprise for your hard-working employees? Set against the striking colours of the MacDonnell Ranges, Earth Sanctuary’s Rock’n’Roll Christmas party offers a night of food, bubbles and fun to kick of the Christmas season under outback skies. The Sanctuary’s very own craft beer, Red Centre Devil, will be flowing all night – adding to the festivities.
Earth Sanctuary Rock’n’Roll Christmas
DESERT PARK SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS
Alice Springs and surrounds, 15-24 December
Spread over ten days, the Spirit of Christmas event at Alice Springs Desert Park will bring Christmas cheer to the heart of the outback. From science experiments to special talks and craft workshops, Spirit of Christmas is a perfect family day out in the Red Centre – and all just a short drive from town.
Desert Park Spirit of Christmas
To plan your Northern Territory adventure visit: northernterritory.com
